5 Best Shopping Malls in Vancouver, BC

Vancouver shopping malls make shopping in the rain easy: you can visit hundreds of stores in one location with no need for an umbrella! Vancouver malls range from the enormous, 470+-store Metropolis at Metrotown to the upscale Oakridge Mall to the Asian Aberdeen Centre in Richmond. Use this Guide to the Top 5 Vancouver Malls to get all the details on Metro Vancouver's best shopping malls.

One of the Top 10 Places to Shop in Vancouver and B.C.'s largest mall, Metropolis at Metrotown is the king of Vancouver malls. As immense as its name implies, the multi-story Metropolis at Metrotown is one heck of a shopping centre: It has over 450 stores, plus restaurants, movie theatres, and unique events. Located in Burnaby, this mall is just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain (it has its own SkyTrain station, too). Free underground parking is available for drivers.

Pacific Centre Mall is the largest mall in downtown Vancouver, though you wouldn't know it to look at it. In a masterstroke of urban planning, most of the mall's 100+ stores are underground, preserving the above-ground skyline and making downtown shopping comfortable, no matter the weather.

Part of downtown's central shopping district, the mall is connected by an elevated walkway/bridge to luxury store Holt Renfrew and by escalator to The Bay department store; it's also only one block away from the famous Robson Street shops.

Home to 150+ stores, Oakridge Centre is one of the more upscale Vancouver malls. Along with mid-range shops like Banana Republic and A/X Armani Exchange, there are several luxury brands at Oakridge, including Tiffany's, Harry Rosen and Hugo Boss. The mall also has a large food court and movie theatres, and is accessible via Canada Line. Free underground parking is also available.

Despite its upscale shops, Oakridge Centre is a popular place to take kids in rainy weather: there are several toy shops to explore, an indoor kids' play area (basically a few coin-operated rides and a carpeted pit for the kids to roll around), and access to the VPL Oakridge Library.

The biggest mall in Richmond is also one of the best Metro Vancouver malls: Located about 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver by Canada Line (get off at the Richmond-Brighouse Station), the Richmond Centre Mall is home to 250 shops and services. The price range at Richmond Centre is more middle-of-the-road than Oakridge Centre, though there are some higher-end fashion and electronic shops. Richmond Centre also has a famous dining terrace: a fancy-ish version of the typical mall food court. Free parking is also available.

One of the best things about Vancouver malls is their diversity. Aberdeen Centre is Richmond's largest Asian mall; the original Aberdeen Centre opened in 1989 and was one of the first Asian malls in Canada. Reopened in 2003, today's Aberdeen Centre is home to 100+ shops and services, including a variety of multicultural shops and fun home decor stores, as well as a large number of acclaimed Chinese restaurants and a singing fountain. Aberdeen Centre also features special events throughout the year, including festivities for Chinese New Year.